49. January 4

Meditations no. 43 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

God calls anyone he wants with a special vocation, without needing to ask for permission.

That group came from a far-off land. The clothes they wore and the strange beasts of burden on which they were riding were not often seen in Palestine. The people around Jerusalem would have conjectured all sorts of things on seeing them. They must be important people: princes, perhaps, or possibly some of those wise men who delve into the mysteries of the stars. If so, they probably came from the lands of the Medes or the Persians, or even from some distant Indian city.

“We have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. This scene is still repeated today. Faced with the greatness of God or with a person who has made up his mind - with a decision both deeply human and profoundly Christian - to live up to the demands of his faith, there are people who find it strange and in their surprise they even get scandalized. It seems they are unable to countenance a way of life which does not fit into their limited earthly horizons. They smirk at the generous actions of those who have heard God’s call. They are frightened by such dedication, and in some cases that appear frankly pathological, they do all in their power to thwart the holy determination of those who with complete freedom have given themselves to God.

On some occasions I have witnessed what could be called a general mobilization against those committed to dedicating their whole lives to the service of God and souls. Some people think that our Lord ought to ask their permission before choosing others for his service. Apparently they believe man is not free to say an unequivocal yes or no to this proposal of Love. To people who think that way, the supernatural life of each soul is something secondary. They do believe it has to be reckoned with, but only after petty comforts and human selfishness have been accommodated. If this were the case, what would be left of Christianity? Are the loving but demanding words of Jesus only to be heard? Or are they rather to be heard and put into practice? Did he not say, Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect?

Our Lord asks all men to come out to meet him, to become saints. He calls not only the Magi, the wise and powerful. Before that he had sent, not a star, but one of his angels to the shepherds in Bethlehem. Rich or poor, wise or less so, all of us have to foster in our hearts a humble disposition that will allow us to listen to the word of God.

Sometimes one’s family’s misguided affection may be an obstacle to commitment. God uses this to strengthen a vocation from the start.

It really hurts me to say this, but… how often it is one’s family, friends, or relatives, who are unreasonably opposed to one’s dedication. Because they do not understand, because they do not want to understand, because they refuse God’s light. And they oppose all the noble things of a life dedicated to God. They dare to “test” the vocation of their child, their brothers and sisters, their friends, their relatives… They act in a low, underhand way. I tell you this, not to scandalize you, but to forewarn you. They even justify this attitude by calling theirs a Christian family. What a shame! …

My children, even nowadays you find the Gospel scene re-enacted. There are those who, since they don’t have Herod’s power, instead use their tongues to destroy not one person alone, but hundreds of people. They poison young people, reacting diabolically, more or less as Herod did when informed about a Baby who was God…

What should you do when, in the course of your life, you run up against this obstacle, this gathering of falsifiers, who goad and indoctrinate, who attempt -such is the drift of their teaching - to darken God’s light, and who try to prevent people from being able to look into Christ’s eyes? What should we do? We should pray, we should pray. Pray, and with supernatural outlook, help that person’s vocation along; help along the vocations of the other people we meet on our way. And remember, omnia in bonum!: God uses all these obstacles to purify, improve and enhance vocations from the very outset.

In a few cases our own families may not understand our dedication to God in the Work. Alongside our firm fidelity to the requirements of God’s call, we must make every effort - through prayer, sacrifice, and affectionate concern - to show our families that our hearts and our happiness are in Opus Dei, and that the divine vocation we have received leads us to love them even more. Our Father always used to say: The first step to bringing your families closer to the Work is for them to see you content, happy and secure in your vocation.

Strength in our vocation: God’s plans always work out.

The news the Magi brought ran through Jerusalem like lightning, from door to door, from house to house. Those longing for the Messiah had their hopes reawakened. But Herod took the news very differently. And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet.” All the apparent science of that age is put at the service of Herod’s evil designs. My dear children, to follow Jesus, knowledge and science are not enough. Not that human knowledge is a hindrance; it is a wonderful means, but it is insufficient. Man’s loving assent is required as well. Herod must have been the first to know where Jesus had been born, but he hated him. And he used this knowledge to devise an evil plan that led to a massacre, to the martyrdom of all those innocent children.

We need all the human knowledge we can acquire. In Opus Dei we try to see that in all areas of intellectual endeavour there are souls dedicated to God, who use the weapons of knowledge to serve humanity and the Church. But in the world there will never be a shortage of new Herods who try to avail themselves of scientific knowledge, even falsifying it, to persecute Christ and those belonging to Christ. What a great task lies ahead of you, my children! How I envy you, for you are young and have so much to do!

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Shrewdness and hypocrisy are the weapons with which Herod vainly hoped to destroy the Light, the Truth and the Life. The prophet Isaiah had foretold it: Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, desolation and destruction are in their highways.

Herod’s murderous fury was to no avail. One man’s ambition and iniquity could not undo God’s salvific plans. When the soldiers reached Bethlehem, Joseph - forewarned by an angel in a dream - had already left with his family, fleeing from the anger of the king of Palestine. Mary, with the Baby in her arms, rode on a donkey; and at her side Joseph, with a sure hand on the reins, led them on towards Egypt.